Snap release container



Feb. 23, 1965 J. M. LYON, JR 3,170,588

SNAP RELEASE CONTAINER Filed May 17, 1963 J E M. LYGV J6 INVEN TOR.

United States Patent Office 3,170,588 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 3,170,588SNAP RELEASE CONTAINER Joe M. Lyon, Jr., 600 E. Capitol St., Salt LakeCity, Utah Filed May 17, 1963, Ser. No. 281,166 11 Claims. (Cl. 220-60)The present invention relates to containers or boxes having two basicparts, a receptacle base and removable cover.

It is an objective of this invention to provide a container which has aclosure which locks the cover to the receptacle base to provide a sealedcontainer capable of holding wide varieties of products, such asliquids, semiliquids, powders, paper clips, shoe polishes, nail files,tools, garbage and numerous other small articles.

It is a further objective to provide a container having the aforesaidcharacteristic and in addition having the container openable solely byapplication of moderate pressure on the center portion of the cover.

It is a further objective of this invention to have a container openableby pressure on the central portion of the cover by a snap action"capable of functioning while the container is resting on a supportingsurface, that is, without the necessity of having to lift the containerbefore applying the pressure.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a container whichdoes not rely merely on the continuing frictional engagementcharacteristic of ordinary boxes with covers or the frictionalengagement of screw-type closures.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a container whichcan be manufactured inexpensively and in a wide variety of shapes.

FIGURE 1 shows the container according to the invention in plan view.FIGURE 2 is a cross-section along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing thecontainer in a closed or sealed position. FIGURE 3 is also across-section along the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 showing the container inan unsealed or open position wherein the cover may be lifted freely fromthe lower part of the container. FIGURES 4 and 5 show two of the manypossible modifications.

The container comprises a crowned disc or plate 1 as shown; an annularretaining ring or cover in the case of a cylindrical container as shown,2; a hollow receptacle forming the lower part of container 3; and, aninner cover plate 4.

The flanged ring 2 on its inner face has a bead or locking means 6 andthe lower receptacle part 3 has a similar integral annular bead, flangeor locking means 5 on its outer face which projects radially. When thecover 2 is pressed firmly down, by pressing on its outer portion, thebead 6 is moved outwardly and on downward movement slips over andinterlocks with bead 5, thus releasably locking the cover assembly inplace and insuring a pressure at the point of sealing 8, continuingpressure and engagement. Both heads 5 and 6 may be continuous orinterrupted around the surfaces on which they are located.

With the container closed and locked as in FIGURE 2 it may be opened andunlocked by pressing down through opening 11 in the central area'of thecrowned disc or plate 1 until said disc snaps into the position as shownin FIGURE 3. The snapping action results from a reversal of thecurvature of the preformed crowned disc 1 from an upper position as inFIGURE 2 to a lower position as in FIGURE 3.

With the snapping of the plate from the position shown in FIGURE 2 tothe position shown in FIGURE 3, a strong and sudden downward force isapplied to the flange cover plate 4, and an upward force is similarlyapplied to the under side of cover 2 by the upward movement of theperiphery of said plate 1 engaging the cover.

The resulting opposite forces combine with the lever action with ring orlug 7 as a fulcrum, and result in the lifting of cover ring 2 with asnap action and overcoming the resistance and engagement of interlockingflange 5 and head 6.

. The cover assembly is thus completely released from any fastening orsecurance to the lower receptacle part and may then be lifted freely foreasy access to the receptacle. When the cover is removed, the bead 6con-, tacts the periphery of 10 of the cover plate 4 and transmitslifting movement to it and retains said plate 4 in the cover assemblytogether with plate 1.

To rese-al the container the cover assembly is placed back in theposition shown in FIGURE 3, and a downward pressure is applied to theouter portion of cover 2, such pressure resulting in exactly oppositeforces that act in the opening process, with a lever action with lug orflange 7 as a fulcrum. When sufiicient pressure is applied .to cover 2,disc 1 will snap back to its original upwardly arched position as shownin FIGURE 2, and flange 5 will seat into the groove of bead 6 and willalso snap into an inter-locking position, completing the closing action.

I FIGURE 4 is one modification of the container ,in which the crowneddisc 1 and the annular ring 2, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, are madeintegral with a connecting flexible relatively thinner annular sectionat 9 which acts as a flexible hinge joint. This provides for a threepiece economical construction.

Otherwise, the description and mounting and removing actions of thismodified container is the same as previously described.

FIGURE 5 is another modified form of the container embodying myinvention and which has a substantially annular cover 13 whose middleportion is upwardly arched, as illustrated, and which said middleportion is relatively thinner along its annular area, as indicated bythe numeral 17. Said cover 13 has formed integral therewith thedepending annular skirt of flange 14 which said skirt 14 is formedintegral therewith an annular inwardly extending head or flange 15. Thismodified form eliminates the use of a separate cover plate .describedwith reference to previous views. The receptacle 3a, of suitable annularshape, has formed thereon an annular bead 16, as illustrated, and theupper portion of the side walls thereof extend inwardly to terminate ina substantially annular integral inwardly and upwardly extending rim offlange 12.

Said upwardly extending annular flange 12 is normally engaged by theinner face of the arched cover 13 to form an effective seal when thecover is in closed position. When said cover 13 is in closed position asillustrated in FIG. 5, said annular flange 12 acts as a fulcrum when orannular ring 7, which is preferably integral with the the middle portionof the cover 13 is manually depressed for the purpose of opening so asto cause the outer and lower portion of annular skirt 14 and itsintegral bead 15 to move outwardly a short distance to thereby disengagethe fiange 15 from looking engagement with the annular bead 16. Uponsuch disengagement the cover is easily removed. 1

It will be understood that downward pressure .upon the middle portion ofsaid cover will flex said cover inwardly to permit its relatively easyremoval and that said cover may be quickly and easily replaced intolocking position. In this instance the arched middle portion of saidcover replaces the need for a cover plate of a type such as describedwith reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, and this provides for an economicaltwo-piece construction.

' enlargement of ring 2 upwardly to a height at least as high as themiddle portion of the cover 13 so that con tainer would not beaccidentally opened by gravity pressure in the event another'object wereplaced on top of it.

Ari-extension of this modification is a ring or a plurality of lugsformed on the outer portion of the bottom of receptacle 3 to engage withand rest upon said extension of ring 2 in a manner so that severalcontainers could be stacked conveniently in superposed positions andwithout danger of accidental opening of the containers.

it is anticipated that the disc 1 may be of segmented construction withelastic material between and connecting the segments.

It is anticipated that the disc 1 may be of dissimilar materials havingthe central area of one material and the outer annular area of anothermaterial.

I It is anticipated that in containers with square corners the crownedplate 1 may have rounded corners or be of an elliptical shape. Forvarying shapes of containers the crowned plate can be a simple square orof rectangular shape.

It is anticipated that the simple locking beads 5 and 6 can be modifiedor used in spaced multiples so as to provide a wide range of sealing andlocking characteristics.

It is anticipated that the opening 11 in retaining ring 2 may bemodified to any shape or size that will permit the application ofpressure to the central portion of crowned plate 1'.

It is anticipated that the opening of retaining ring 2 may be completelyclosed with an elastic material suitably secured at its periphery toring 2 so that manual pressure applied to crown plate 1 maybetransmitted through said elastic material to said plate 1.

It is anticipated that the opening 11 in retaining ring 2 can be reducedto an appropriate size and a movable push button be mounted in saidopening to be used to apply pressure to the central portion of crownplate 1 for the purpose of opening the container.

It is anticipated that this container will be built of various'suitablematerials having proper physical properties. The platel may be of glassor metal'including steel, stainless steel, brass, and alloys or of anyplastic material having the proper flexible qualities. The balance ofthe case may be made of any of these suitable materials and may be ofthe same or dilferent material as the plate 1.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter and it is contemplatedthat various changes may be made in the embodiment of the inventionherein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention and locking means on the skirtadaptedto releasably engage the locking means on said base; an innercover plate having an integral annular ridge on its upper surfaceintermediate its center and the periphery of said plate; a crowned dischavinga portion thereof of curved cross section; i said disc beingadapted'to flex and snap downward when pressure is applied through saidcover plate opening to separate said cover member and said cover plateand to separate the' cooperating locking means on said base andsaidcover and being adapted to snap upward when said cover assembly is urgeddownward onto said base to engagesaid locking means. 2. A container ofthe character described comprising: a base and a cover assembly,

said base including a hollowreceptacle open at the top and havinglock-ing means on its exterior surface; said cover assembly including anouter annular cover member having a flat upper surface, a centralopening, a depending skirt portion,

' and locking means on the'said skirt portion adapted to engage saidlocking means on said receptacle;

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its uppersurface intermediate its center and periphery;

a crowned preformed disc having a curved cross section;

said disc being flexible and responsive in one direction to downwardpressure exerted through said opening in said outer cover member and inthe other direction by downward pressure on said cover member.

3. A container of the character described comprising:

a base including a hollow receptacle open at the top and havinglockingmeans on its sides;

a cover assembly including an outer cover member having a flat uppersurface,

a central opening, a depending skirt portion,

and locking means on the inner portion of said skirt adapted to engagesaid locking means on said base;

an inner cover plate havingprotruding fulcrum means on its upper surfaceintermediate its center and edge;

a crowned preformed disc having a curved cross section intermediate theouter cover and cover plate,

said disc being flexible and responsive in one direction to downwardpressure exerted through said opening in said outer cover member and inthe other direction by downward pressure on said cover member.

4. A container of'the character described comprising:

a hollow receptacle open at the topand having an annular locking ridgeon its sides;

a cover assembly including an outer cover having an essentially flatupper surface,

a central opening, depending skirt portion,

and an annular locking ridge'on the inner portion of said skirt adaptedto engagethe cooperating locking ridgev on said base;

7 an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its uppersurface;

an arched preformed disc having a curved cross section intermediate theouter cover and cover plate,

said disc being flexible and responsive in one direction to downwardmanual pressure exerted through said opening in said outer cover andbeing responsive in the other direction to downward pressure on theouter portions of the cover plate on the base.

5. A container of the character described comprising:

a base and a cover assembly, I

said base including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having anannular locking ridge on its sides;

said cover assembly including an outer annular cover 7 ring having anupper flange, adepending skirt portion, i a central opening,

and an annular locking ridge on the inner portion of said skirt adaptedto engage the corresponding locking ridge on the base;

an inner cover plate having an annular ridge on its upper surfaceintermediate its center and edge;

a crowned preformed disc of curved cross section intermediate said outerring and said cover plate,

said disc being flexible and responsive in one direction to downwardpressure exerted through the opening in the outer cover and in the otherdirection by downward pressure on said ring.

6. A container of the character described comprising:

a base and cover assembly,

said base including a hollow receptacle open at the top and havinglocking means on its exterior surface;

said cover having a depending skirt; locking means mounted on said skirtadapted to coact with cooperating locking means on the base;

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its uppersurface inward of its periphery,

a crowned preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediate theouter cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with said cover andcover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to aposition wherein its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps upwhen the cover assembly is pushed onto said base assembly;

and, when downward pressure is put on the center of said disc snaps toposition wherein the edges of the disc are in an upper position, therebyseparating the cover and cover plate and unlocking the container bydisengaging the locking means on said base and on said cover skirt.

7. A container of the character described comprising:

a base assembly and cover assembly,

said base assembly including a hollow receptacle open at the top andhaving locking means on its sides adapted to coact with locking means onthe cover;

a cover assembly including an outer cover having an essentially flatupper surface, a central opening, a depending skirt portion,

and locking means on the inner portion of said skirt adapted to engagethe corresponding locking means on the base;

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its uppersurface intermediate its center and edge;

an arcuate preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediate theouter cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with the cover andcover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to aposition where its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps up whenthe cover assembly is pushed onto the base,

and, when downward pressure is put on the center of said crownedpreformed disc, snaps to a position where the edges of the disc are inan upper position, thereby separating the cover and cover plate andunlocking the container by disengaging the locking ridge on the base andouter cover.

8. A container of the character described comprising:

a base assembly and cover assembly, said base assembly including ahollow receptacle open at the top and having an annular locking ridge onits sides adapted to coact with an annular locking ridge on the cover;

a cover assembly including an outer cover having an essentially flatupper surface,

a central opening,

depending skirt portion,

and an annular locking ridge on the inner portion of said skirt adaptedto engage the corresponding locking ridge on the base;

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its uppersurface intermediate its center and edge,

' an arcuate preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediatethe outer cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with the cover andcover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to aposition where its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps up whenthe cover assembly is pushed onto said base assembly,

and, when downward pressure is put on the center of said arcuate disc,snaps to a position wherein the edges of said disc are in an upperposition, thereby separating the cover and cover plate and unlocking thecontainer by disengaging the locking ridge on the base from said outercover.

9. A container of the character described comprising:

a base assembly and cover assembly,

said base assembly including a hollow receptacle open at the top andhaving an annular locking ridge on its sides adapted to coact with anannular locking ridge on the cover;

a cover assembly including an outer cover having an essentially flatupper surface, a central opening, a depending skirt portion,

and an annular locking ridge on the inner portion of said skirt adaptedto engage the corresponding looking ridge on the base;

an inner cover plate having an annular ridge on its upper surfaceintermediate its center and edge,

an arcuate preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediate theouter cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with the cover andcover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to aposition where its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps up whenthe cover assembly is pushed onto said base and, when downward pressureis put on the center of said arcuate preformed disc, snaps to a positionwhere the edges of the disc are in an upper position, thereby separatingthe cover and cover plate and unlocking the container by disengaging thelocking ridge on the base and outer cover.

10. A container of the character described comprising:

a base member and a cover,

said base member including a hollow receptacle open at the top andhaving locking means on its side,

a cover means including a crowned upper surface of curved cross-sectionand having a depending skirt portion;

and a locking means on said skirt portion adapted to engage thecorresponding locking means on said base assembly;

an inner cover plate having an integral annular ridge on its uppersurface intermediate the center and edge of said plate;

said crowned portion of the cover means being adapted to snap downwardwhen downward pressure is applied thereto and when contact is made withthe annular ridge on the cover plate,

to separate the cover and cover plate and to separate the cooperatinglocking means on the base and cover,

and being adapted to snap upward when the cover means is urged downwardby pressure on its outer portion onto the base to engage said lockingmeans.

11. A container of the character described comprising:

a receptacle having a mouth of smaller diameter than its base and shapedto form an annular ridge at its upper extremity;

a locking means on the side of said receptacle;

a cover means including a crowned upper surface having a curvedcross-section,

a depending skirt portion adapted to slidably engage the sides of thereceptacle,

and locking means on said skirt adapted to engage said locking means onsaid base;

said crowned portion of the cover means being adapted to be flexed andsnapped downward when downward '2 8 7 pressure is applied-on the centerof said crowned porsure onto said base and being adaptedto engage saidtion and on the point of contact between said annular locking means.ridge on the upper extremity of the receptacle and the lower side of thesaid crowned portion, References fitted in the fiie of this patent saidpressure impeiled movement being adapted to slid- 5 UNITED STATESPATENTS l 0 V ably separate said C0161 means from the coopcratm1,605,708 Clark NOV- 1926 locking means on said base, 7 said cover beingadapted to snap upward when the edge 2,024,227 Jones Dec. 17, 1935portions of said cover are urged downward by pres-

1. A CONTAINER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING: A BASE, INCLUDINGA HOLLOW RECEPTACLE OPEN AT THE TOP AND HAVING LOCKING MEANS ON ITSSIDE; A COVER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN OUTER COVER MEMBER HAVING ASUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPPER SURFACE, HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING, A DEPENDINGSKIRT PORTION, AND LOCKING MEANS ON THE SKIRT ADAPTED TO RELEASABLYENGAGE THE LOCKING MEANS ON SAID BASE; AN INNER COVER PLATE HAVING ANINTEGRAL ANNULAR RIDGE ON ITS UPPER SURFACE INTERMEDIATE ITS CENTER ANDTHE PERIPHERY OF SAID PLATE; A CROWNED DISC HAVING A PORTION THEREOF OFCURVED CROSS SECTION; SAID DISC BEING ADAPTED TO FLEX AND SNAP DOWNWARDWHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED THROUGH SAID COVER PLATE OPENING TO SEPARATESAID COVER MEMBER AND SAID COVER PLATE AND TO SEPARATE THE COOPERATINGLOCKING MEANS ON SAID BASE AND SAID COVER AND BEING ADAPTED TO SNAPUPWARD WHEN SAID COVER ASSEMBLY IS URGED DOWNWARD ONTO SAID BASE TOENGAGE SAID LOCKING MEANS.